17 replies to this topic

[Sgt]

I was cleaning out some things that my mother kept, before she died. I found an early drawing that shows I've been thinking about military guns for a long time. This is from about the 2nd grade. Notice the strange Thompson with a revolver drum.



Iraqi kids weren't the first to do war drawings.

[PK.]

Mom's are priceless; may she rest in peace.

Those are keepers. I think I may have some my mom saved also; but where? Yours look very familiar.

Thanks for sharing.

[Grey Crow]

Sgt. That revolver drum must be the concept drum for the 1,000 rounder.

I can't draw for shit........but when I was little playing army I sure had the machinegun sound down to a "T"....

[john]

They look alot like some of my old drawings....high degree of detail and usually took a few days to complete. The "Thompson" almost looks like an early prototype of a striker 12 or streetsweeper.....if I were you i'd verify the date you drew these and go after them for design infringement....probably could make enough to buy a couple drums?? Who Knows!!

Priceless works such as these should be framed and given a place of honor, maybe directly above a reloading bench??


Thanks for bringing back some nice old memories!!

john

[M1tommygun]

Nice drawings! It looks like the pictures I drew when I was young. I do not think my mother kept any of them though. Of course, now if you drew those in school you would be expelled indefinitely, and be expected to see a shrink for your abnormal behavior and interests.

Scott

[LIONHART]

I wished I'd kept my Striker SE!

[Sgt. Fox]

I love the art!

Maddox would give it an 'F' though...
http://maddox.xmissi...m/c.cgi?u=irule

[Sgt]

You guys have touched my inner child. Do it again and I'll report you.

Sgt. Fox-- That Maddox is out of control. I laughed so hard because I identify!!! I'm around a lot of liberal art educators.

[catnipman]

When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I was in love with the old Untouchables TV show with Robert Stack. Being quite the woodworker even at that tender age, I manufactured two wooden Thompson replicas, using the bandsaw my grandfather gave me for a birthday present when I was 7. One piece of wood was cut with the profile of the gun, and a second piece was cut into the profile of a 50rnd drum, with a slot cut into it so I could attach it orthogonally to the gun piece. I then painted both with black paint. The reason I made two was so my brother and I could have machinegun battles. Boy, I sure wish I had those two guns now!

[LIONHART]

If a kid was doing those kinds of drawings today in school, he'd probably either get suspended for a month, or kicked out for good!

[Bisley45]

Those look a lot like some drawings I did about the same age, minus the B-25 and B-26's. Spent a lot of time with my Grampa who worked on those airplanes during the second and it was the picture of him and his buddies with a Thompson that perked my intrest in getting one at that tender age.

Some kid drawing those in school now would be EXPELLED and the COPS WOULD BE CALLED

I remember fondly when the greatest threat was when the principal would ask if you wanted him to call your parents when you got surly and back talked a teacher. Anyone figure out where that world went ?

BB

[hawksnest]

You were afraid if the principal called your parents you would get a whipping when you got home but today the parents want the teacher fired and want to sue the school.

[Walter63a]

Sgt., I have been wondering what type of art you are interested in, teach, etc. Please elaborate here, or email me when you get the chance. Where do you teach? Thanks in advance. Best Regards, Walter

[Sgt]

Walter--
I teach at East Tenn State Univ., holding the rank of full professor. I've been with them since 1990 and just stepped down from Chairing that department. When I first started there, I was in charge of drawing foundations and pre-medical illustration. This fall I will still teach drawing fundamentals, but also have a full load of printmaking courses. Intaglio printmaking is my specialty. Much of my imagery is etched or engraved on copperplates and then hand printed in a very traditional style. I utilize animal imagery in my work, usually as symbolic narrative of the human conditition. As I mentioned, most of my friends are extreme liberals, which makes for some interesting discussions, particularly with issues of guns, art, religion, and crime.

I plan to complete a web site of my work this fall and will keep you posted. Thanks for asking!

[Sgt]

Funny thing about art, Phil, is that some teaching trends in academia wish to minimize the need for those kinds of skills. I guess it depends on where you go, or who you talk to, but theories abound, saying that the honest approach is to celebrate materials rather than the narrative; abstraction rather than illusion. I'm an old fart when it comes to art and love to tell stories with it. Maybe I got into that habbit from my early days of drawing in grade school. After all, its hard to draw a Thompson without making those rat a tat tat sounds with your mouth and pencil. I'm sure the teachers enjoyed that. I love the fact that many of you guys did the same thing. I think that's pretty cool!!!

[Walter63a]

Thanks for all the information Sgt.! I love animal imagery, dream in vivid colors and remember a lot of my dreams. I have this constantly repeating theme in many of my dreams where either I am physically wrestling with lions, tigers or bears (sometimes they are affectionate), or hunting them and being hunted by them. I am not joking here. I have, on occasion, felt their claws and teeth sinking into my flesh!!! I have had these dreams for years. It is all very interesting, and I always thought that the purpose of art was to tell a story or for personal expression. Maybe when you get your website together, you could tell a Thompson tale in intaglio prints! Best regards, Walter

[john]

Ya know, after thinking about these drawings for a couple days I think the real money can be fotten out of E-bay. You probably could get a few hundred Beans out of those (properly framed and matted, of course!)

Category: Military Art.

Sign and number it as #1 and ya might get a grand!!

john

[Sgt]

General Thompson's signature might be a nice touch.